Monday, August 21, 2006

Where Do I Start?

I haven't blogged for over a week, shock horror, what has happened to me?? Well I did have plans to post before this but not only have I been extremely busy but I have picked up some virus which has knocked me for six. Started with a headache that lasted till Saturday off and on complete with dizzyness and Sunday morning I woke up in the early hours with a runny nose and sore throat. Today I am having a day home resting as I hope to feel better tomorrow as it is the knitting coven, anyway I have lots to tell so maybe grab a coffee or even something stronger depending on the time of the day and read on.


Early last week I dropped into the local op shop and found these very 'busy' patterned Jag denim jeans, they definately are not something that I would wear but I thought that they would make a fabulous jean bag. They are cut out and pinned ready to sew but I need to have a clear head for sewing as it doesn't come as easily to me as knitting.



I picked this up from my bookstore on Friday, I had ordered it in as learning to crochet is on my to do list and I thought that if anyone could teach me the very talented Ms Stoller could. So far I have just read through the instructions and compared to other learn to crochet books she talks to the absolute beginner with clear and precise pictures and baby step directions, so I just may get the hang of it this time around. Oh yes I have tried before but found that I could never quite grasp what the other learn to books were getting at and Debbie even mentions this in her book saying that most learn tos' assume that the reader has a bit of crocheting knowledge. I can make a chain and I crocheted an edge around a hat once with single crochet stitches, well I think that is what they were called anyway. So yes I am definately an absolute beginner.


On the knitting front I have been working on the Betty Boop Jacket, not as much as I would like though as I seem to have so many other projects on my growing to do list that the poor dear is languishing in the bottom of my knitting basket. That she is all stocking stitch from here on in doesn't help either but the above photo is a progress pic of the left front.

I am waiting for the cotton to arrive that Cindy and I have ordered together so that I can start my dishcloths for the dishcloth exchange some of us are taking part in. I need to get these finished before September 1st as that is when I can cast on for The Central Park Hoodie Knitalong each day I walk past my yarn and get very itchy fingers, I am really looking forward to starting this. The secret santa project that I mentioned in the previous post is what I have been knitting this past week and I am on the home stretch now and should be casting off in the next couple of days. It is a great knit and I hope the person I am spoiling likes it as much as I have enjoyed knitting it.

As mentioned at the beginning I have been extremely busy this last week and didn't even have the weekend to rest up as on Saturday we had our annual outing with the GEMS girls group I am involved in. This year we went to Tasmazia which is an amazing place just out of Sheffield, 1 1/4 hours drive from Launceston. There are mazes to explore and get lost in and a miniature village with the wonderful name of Lower Crackpot and a pancake parlour with a huge choice of pancakes both sweet and savoury and other yummy eats. Got back home at about 5 o'clock, exhausted but had to welcome a new family member. Meet Phil the galah, who happens to be a girl but my sister named him Phil before she realised this.

An old boyfriend of my sisters gave Phil to her and when she got married and moved out of home Phil stayed behind at my dads place. Well on Saturday my dad moved into a unit, he has lived in the same house for the past 29 years but since losing mum and my sister moving out he decided that it was way too big for him now and that it was time to make a new start, so we have now adopted Phil, or should that be Phillipa?

It would have been great if on Sunday I could have stayed in bed all day as that is how I felt but instead we had a family reunion to attend in Oatlands, which is over an hours drive South from Launceston. My maiden name was Housego which is quite an unusual and not very common name and this reunion was to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of John Housego, the first Housego to settle in Tasmania. He and his wife had three children, a daughter and two sons, my dad is a descendant of one of the sons. A great day was had catching up with relatives I hadn't seen in years and of course learning a bit about my heritage which was fascinating.

26 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow you have been busy at least you are getting a well needed rest now. Phil is so cute my dad had one when we we're growing up it use to run around the backyard chasing our dogs :)I hope you are feeling better soon.Take care.

Anonymous said...

Gee, I'm a sloth in comparison and I haven't even been sick.

I've never seen a pink bird before. Pretty little guy.

Kate said...

That flu seems to be everywhere. I think (hope) I've just got over it myself. I had to slow down a lot thought - so if you can get some down time it's worth it.

Anonymous said...

Glad that you are feeling better!!! I am waiting for the cotton too. I ordered Monday and they said 2 to 4 days but it is not here today and that is 5 working days. Sigh. It might not be here till later in the week. We will have to rendezvous somewhere!
Cool denim bag idea!!!!!

Unknown said...

Love the jeans - in the 'cut them up and use the fabric' sense. My, you have been busy! Glad you had a chance to blog :)

Marina said...

Now I'm homesick! I miss seeing flocks of galahs and other cockatoos, flame trees and the beach. Nothing like those where I am :-(

Hope you feel better soon!

Jennifer said...

I hope you feel better! You've been quite busy through the illness. Make sure you get some rest!

Mitchypoo said...

Phil/Phillipa is gorgeous! Is hereally a pink like that or more coral?

Hope you are feeling better really soon!

Sherri said...

Wow, I could barely keep up with everything going on with you! Hope you get back to normal soon... spend some knitting time if you can to recuperate fully. the bird is beautiful! I can't wait to see the bag when you get it figured out!

Anonymous said...

Oh, I hope you feel better soon! It's no fun when you're too sick to knit, though you seem to be doing OK so far. :)

Glad to hear your comments on the crochet book. I've been wanting to learn the basics myself and have been thinking that one would be good to start with, so maybe when I catch up on my other projects, I'll get and try it out.

What yarn are you using for the Central Park Hoodie? I need to pick some soon, but can't decide what.

I have never seen a pink bird before, but Phil/Phillipa is just gorgeous. Is she noisy or a quiet bird? Looking forward to hearing more about her.

Larjmarj said...

Get better! Take your vitamins!
What a beautiful bird. I don't think I've ever seen one that color. I'm sure he's happy in his new home.

MrsDrWho said...

Ok...I guess I am totally alone in the DONT CUT UP THE JEANS club.
I like the jeans....I would wear the jeans. I have jeans in my cupboard that make those look dull and boring...and if my general size and shape was less along the lines of a very giant witchety grub I would still wear them. I bought them when I was about half the woman I am now but I assure you that if I could fit into them would.

Ann said...

I tried learning to crochet too but never got the hang of it & all I can do now is a chain & single crochet around a knitted edge - I guess that's good enough for now. I am also dying to cast on the Hoodie altho' haven't received my yarn yet! Take care & get well soon.

amanda j said...

What a coincindence - you are genealogying too! You have been quite busy, at least you don't have to think about the stocking stitch when you knit Betty.

I look forward to seeing your crochet attempts. No doubt you will get the hang of it!

L. said...

I hope this message finds you on the mend, Sharon.

I know you'll be able to pick up crocheting with your obvious knitting talents, so go for it because you'll love being able to crochet certain things and knit others. I love crocheting and it eats up "huge" hunks of my stash, which is always a good thing. :)

Nana Sadie said...

So sorry you're not feeling the best, but glad you're trying to blog a bit! Missed you!
(((hugs)))

Anonymous said...

Hope you're feeling better now.
Phil is lovely. I really like parrots myself. They are very smart animals.

Shelley L. MacKenzie said...

Yes, you were definately busy! Hope you are feeling better though!!

NattyChick said...

That WILL make an awesome bag. Hope you are feeling better soon. We have seen lots of patients coming through with this bug and it seems to be lingering this year.

Unknown said...

Sorry to hear you are not well Sharon. Only cure is to rest up and knit. I had a 3 week virus earlier so I empathise. You have still been busy as a beaver.
I'm, serious - rest

Corrie said...

phew , I thought you were going to say you were going to wear those jeans and I might have had to lie and say mmmm nice!!!!!!!!! I just ordered some sugar n cream too for the dishcloth swap and wish could buy here!

Tracy Batchelder said...

Hope you feel better soon. I'm a total beginner when it comes to crochet too. I've tried it a few times, but don't know if it's for me. Good luck.

Nora said...

Good - you're safe! Now I can get back to my knitting.

zippiknits...sometimes said...

What a beautiful bird! Pip is a nick name for Phillipa, and I love that name, Phillipa.

I hope you feel better soon. That illness (virus) seems to be going around California, too. It's just not nice to be sick and wanting to get soooo much done. ~~healing vibes~~ sent your way.

Knittinreed said...

I hope by now you back in the "pink of health" to match your beautiful pink Phillipa.

Great jeans!! They are not my style either, but sure are cute.

Thank you for sharing that book - I am working on a sweater that has a crochet border and didn't know what book to buy so I could learn.

It's okay to have languishing projects - as you told me. When the time is right they will beckon you again (as my yellow Leaves are doing to me right now.) They will wait for you. After all, they aren't going anywhere :-)

Wow - how cool about finding family history! I hope the trip did not wear you down too much -vitamins, rest and clear broth all help.

MsFortuknit said...

Sharon-
I dont know where to start..Phillipa is a dolly!I just love her...shes beautiful! Im not familiar with that breed of bird, Im going to have to research that.

As for the happy hooker! Isnt that fantastic? And your work is great as always! Honestly love, I dont know where you get the time between family reunions, what a great story about your name, and everything else?
You truly are superwoman!
Hope the boy is well!